Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed a lawsuit against a former Floyd County Highway Department superintendent, saying he misappropriated funds over a span of six years.

According to a report by the Indiana Board of Accounts, nearly $18,000 is owed to the state.

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Zoeller said the man at the center is Floyd County Highway Supervisor Ronald Quakenbush.

Part of the county highway department's job is to manage old materials like culverts and guard rails and then turn them in for scrap money.

The report said Quakenbush was taking part of the money from the scraps and putting it in a cash drawer, instead of turning it over to the county auditor.

"It's the responsibility as the head of he Highway Department to be accountable to the public for the funds that are entrusted," said Zoeller.

In the report, his fellow employees alleged he was also taking money from the drawer and buying candy and drinks, then selling them for a higher price.

"Some (money was) deposited in a checking account in a bank outside of the county," said Zoeller.

Quakenbush admitted to keeping money in a cash drawer, but he said it was to cut through red tape.

The report said Quakenbush was the primary account holder on an interest-bearing savings account with money belonging to the county highway.

Quakenbush said in a statement through his attorney that he thought it was common practice to keep a cash drawer for county highway funds.

"If you can't account for it regardless of what happened to it, regardless if it was all spent for legitimate purposes or not. If you can't account to the public as the what happened with public funds, you owe the money back," Zoeller said.

Zoeller said the nearly $18,000 is owed factoring in the missing receipts, the bank account and audit costs.

Western Surety was also listed on the complaint because it was a bond company that essentially served as a $15,000 insurance policy covering county employees.